Fountain pen of the pump type



Aug. 8, 1953 E. B. BLOCKERT ET AL FOUNTAIN PEN OF THE PUMP TYPE 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 12, 1949 F IG.I.

ERNEST B. lfg m INVE 8. ANTHONY MARINO 'L/ ATTORN EY FIGJB.

Aug. 18, 1953 E. B. BLOCKERT ET AL FOUNTAIN PEN OF THE PUMP TYPE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 12, 1949 INVENTORS. ERNEST B. BLOCKERT I ANTHONY MARINO J M ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 18, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOUNTAIN PEN OF THE PUMP TYPE Ernest B. Blockert, New York, and Anthony Marino,.Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application September 12, 1949, Serial No. 115,284

6 Claims; (01. 12047) This invention relates to fountain pens' and; more particularly hooded fountain pens of t e pump or sac-less type.

One of the objects of the invention is top O- Vide a fountain pen having a greatly increased ink capacity. Another object of the invention is to provide a fountain pen which is filled with greater ease and more rapidly than pens as heretofore made. An allied object is to provide a fountain pen having a fully transparent and visible ink cylinder so that the ink supply can be instantly ascertained. A further object is to provide an ink indicator which is. visible during the filling operation (as Will be more fully explained herein).

Another object of the invention isto provide a. fountain pen of the character described, in which the possibility of ink drying out at the nib of the pen, or of weeping, is entirely eliminated, even though the cap is removed for a considerable length of time, so that the pen will write immediately. Another object of the invention is to provide a fountain pen as described which will have a constant unbroken ink flow and will not lose or drop ink when the ink supply gets low.

For the attainment of the foregoing and such other objects of invention as may appear or be" pointed out herein we have shown a preferredembodiment of our invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a full view of the improved pen, with its cap in plan;

Fig. 2 shows the pen being filled;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the entire pen (in considerably enlarged scale) Fig. 4 is a full view of the pen of Fig. 3-'ex'- ploded into its three main parts, viz, cap, Den proper, and barrel (in somewhat reduced Scale compared to Fig. 3)

Fig. 5 is a full view of the pen proper of Fig. 4'

Fig. 8 is a full view of the pump proper of Fig. 7 further exploded into its component parts;

Fig. 9 is a section view through the pump, in the forward position of its plunger;

Fig. 10 is a cross-section at the nib end ofthe pen on the line I0-I0' of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is across-section at the pump end O the pen on the line II-II of Fig. 3;

Fig. 12 isa cross-section likewise at the pump end, but on the line I2-I2- of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 13 is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, taken through the'feed',.at line I3'I3 of Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 4, the improved pen comprises three parts, vim-the pen proper designated A, the cap C and the barrel B. There is nothing usualabout cap C, which may be frictionallyheld to the-nibend of the pen (as shown) or may be screwed thereon. An innovation, however, has been introduced with respect to the barrelB. The barrel,- with the reference numeral 9,. is provided with internal screw threads 8which' engage threads I8 externally provided" on pen section Ill: Barrel 9 may be readily unscrewed from section IQ for the ink-filling operation (as will be more fully described subsequently).

Theright end of the pen sectionID (as viewed in Fig. 3) is hollowed'to provide a mouth II. The left (open) end of the ink cylinder 20 is reduced at 2| and this end of cylinder 20 i force fitted into mouth I l' ofpen section In. Ink cylinder 20 is made of transparent material, suchas glass, Lucite plastic or the like, so that the ink therein will be clearly visible- (see Fig. 2). Ink cylinder 20 hasexterior grip-threads 26 to hold the pen firmly' during" the pumping operation, Fig. 2,

The other or nib end of section I6 is also hollowed to provide'a' nib mouth I2. Between the two mouths II, [2, section III has a central bore I3, the diameter of which is' somewhat less'than that of nib mouth" I2;=s'o.that an-annular shoulder I I, is provided at thebottom of nib mouth I2. A feed 3!] of a diameter somewhat less than that of bore I3 is frictiona-lly fitted into bore l3. The forward (left), or nib end of feed 30 is curved or shaped as shown at'3 I.

The diameter of nib mouth I2 of section It) being-somewhat larger th'an thatoffeed 3!], an annular space (designated 32, Fig; 3 and 10) is providedbetween feed 30 and the section III, in the upper half of which is received the pen nib 2. The left 'or'nib'endof section- Iiiiscurved or tapered as shown at I5, sothat this and the curved end 3| of thefeed 3 0 'g'ive'the customary appearance to the hooded pen or nib.

Feed 30 isprovided with a centralblindpassage 33, (and which will be subsequently described). At the open (right) end of blind passage 33 of feed 30 is-force' fitted one end of a breather 40, which is alengthof: tubehaving an inner bore 43. The upper parti. e. opposite curved portion 3Iof feed 30 has a channel 34 which extends from a joint close to the nib (left end thereof to the right or open end of the feed. A hole 35 is provided in feed 30 at a point in the vicinity of the end of nib.2, see Fig. 3, and communicates between channel 34 and inner passage 33.

In filling the pin, manipulation of a pump (later fully described) at the right end of ink cylinder 20 will create a suction therein to cause ink to be drawn into ink cylinder 29 via the following path: annular space 32 between section It) and feed 39, channel 34 of the latter, its pump hole 35, central passage 33 of feed 39 and central bore 43 of breather 40.

Turning now to the pump, this comprises an outer shell 39 open at one end (left) and having a reduced mouth 38 at the other end. The end of ink cylinder 20 is reduced, as indicated at 22, and the pump shell 39 is force fitted or cemented thereon. Within shell or cylinder 39 is contained the pump proper, designated P in Fig. 7. The pump unit P, Fig. 7, is shown exploded into its component parts in Fig. 8. One of these parts is a plug 49 having an enlarged mouth 53 at one end (right, Fig. 8) and a central hole 4'I at the other end, left hand. Plug 49 is preferably fabricated of plastic, hard rubber or the like. Slidable through opening 4! of plug 49 is a short length of tubing 31. Force fitted in one end of tubing 31 is the stem 21 of a member which has a disc 29 which serves as a valve, as will be seen. That is, 29 and the tubing 31 are integrally united to form one end of a valve member 29-3I. The other end (right) of tube 31, passes through the central hole I! of a small plug I9, which also has an enlarged mouth I6. Within this (right) end of tube 31 is force fitted the stem 7 of a member which has an enlargement 9 at one end.

The parts just mentioned are assembled as follows: One end (left) of tube 37 is passed through opening 41 of the larger plug 49, and stem 21 of the valve member is force fitted into that end of tube 31 with its valve disc 29 on the outer side (left, Fig. 8) of plug 49. The other (right) end of tube 31 is passed through opening ll of the smaller plug I9, and the stem I is force fitted into that end of the tube with the protuberance 6 disposed within mouth I6 of plug I9. It is thus seen that valve member 29-2'l is confined by valve disc 29 (at larger plug 49) and by protuberance 6 (at smaller plug).

Smaller plug I9 has external threads IQ by which it may be screwed into, and form part of, a plunger member generally designated 59. The left or piston end of plunger 59 is internally threaded, 59, Fig. 8, and this end is of considerably greater diameter than that of small plug I9. Hence when small plug I9 is screwed into plunger 50 there is presented an annular shoulder, designated 52, see Fig. 8.

Encircling tube or stem 31 (and also small plug 19) is a helical compression spring 28, one end of which is received in the said mouth 48 of large plug 49, the other end of which abuts the said annular shoulder 52 of plunger 59. It is understood that helical spring 28 is placed about stem or tube 31 and in plug mouth 48 (and the spring compressed) before small plug I9 is screwed into plunger 50.

The left (threaded) end I of plunger 59, has a mouth 56 substantially of the same diameter as the mouth I6 of small plug I9, so that the protuberance 6 of the valve (29-37-45) may move rightwardly in both mouth I6 (of plug I9) and mouth 56 (of plunger 50). Said end (5I of plunger 50 functions as a piston, and to make a tight sliding engagement with the walls of pump shell or cylinder 39 has an annular groove 53, in which is disposed an endless 0 gasket of soft rubber 3. Another 0 gasket 4 disposed on the stem 2! of the valve unit 29-3l5, between the valve discs 29 and the plug 49. The stem 58 of plunger 50 extends through the mouth 38 of shell 39.

In the normal position of the parts, as shown in Fig. 3, compression spring 28 abutting against the annular shoulder 52 of the plunger 59 maintains the plunger including small plug I9 (which is secured to 50, as already described) in its rightmost position, with stem 53 projecting beyond the end of shell 39. Since enlargement 9 of valve unit 29-3'l6 is encased within the mouth [6 of small plug I9, rightward movement of plunger 50 will maintain the valve disc 29 in abutment with the plug 49, the disc 29 being urged into sealing contact with the plug 49 by the compression spring 28 (the O gasket 4 cooperating to make this an airtight seal). In filling the ink cylinder 20 with ink, plunger stem 58 is pressed inwardly, Fig. 2, to the position shown in Fig. 9. The tube 37 of the valve unit 29376 is loosely fitted in the opening I? of small plug [9, so that when the plunger 50 is pushed inwardly (as just described) the valve unit 2937--3 is not carried with it and is delayed in its opening action until the enlargement 6 hits the end of bore 55. The bore or mouth 56 is made of such length that its end will abut enlargement Ii, as shown in Fig. 9, so that the final movement of the plunger will move the valve unit 293'I--5 down to open the valve.

However, (for a reason soon explained) the valve unit 29-31-45 is given a limited extent of movement compared with that of the plunger and piston 50, 5|. The valve unit is stopped in its (leftward) movement by an annular ledge 23 provided interiorly of the ink cylinder 20 near its right (or upper end). As the plunger stem 58 is pushed inwardly, further leftward movement of valve unit 29316 is stopped by abutment of disc 29 with annular ledge 23, the piston 50, 5|, however, continuing leftwardly, as small plug I9 and the plunger slides along the now stationary tube 37.

It is thus seen that disc 29 has the same movement compared with that of the piston 5|. Moreover, it will be seen that by reason of the aforesaid cavity or bore 56 in'the plunger 50, Within which end 6 of the valve unit 29-31--5 is received, the piston has the same pumping stroke but the disc 29 is delayed in its action as it does not move up at the same time as the plunger. The air within the pump cylinder, between the piston 5I and the large plug 49, is forced during said inward or leftward stroke of the plunger 50, out through the opening 41 in plug 49, more accurately, through the annular space or crevices between said opening 41 and the tube 31 of the valve unit.

Upon the return or suction stroke of the pump,

ink is sucked into the ink cylinder 20 via the annular space 32 between pen section I0 and feed 30, see Fig. 10, channel 34 of feed 30, hole 35, blind passage 33 of feed 30, and breather 40 or rather its inner bore 43. The ink cylinder 20 is transparent so that its filling up with ink may be observed and the ink level ascertained, see Fig. 2. A drain hole 42 is provided in breather tube 40, Fig. 3. near its end which is secured in feed30;

this hole serves as. a drain for the inkwithin'in-k cylinder 20 when it is desired to rid. it "of ink, which is done on the forward strokes of the pump.

The ink gushes out of the top of breather 40. To prevent any of this ink from splashing into the pump section, there is provided a deflector 26-. As clearly seen in Fig. 6, deflector 26 is. formed of a single narrow strip of thin metal in V-shape to present folded legs 25 at the ends of which are outwardly turned portions 24, 24. The folded legs 25 of the deflector are frictionally held in the end of inner bore 43, Fig. 3, with its pair of out- Wardly turned portions 24,24 spaced above that end of the breather 40. The ink gushing from the breather is deflected by portions 24, 24, away from the pump end of ink cylinder 20.

It isalso for this reasoni. e., to keep ink out of the pump section-that the valve unit 29- 3'IIi is given a limited (inward) movement, as described above. If the valve unit were moved downwardly within range of the. breather 40 (or its deflector 26), it wouldbe found that ink frequently is deposited upon the valve disc 29 and that this ink, when the valve unit approaches its closing position, will be sucked into the pump cylinder. Hence, annular ledge 23 has been provided to stop the valve disc at a sufficient distance away from the discharge end of breather 40. Also the annular ledge 23 helps to keep ink out of the pump.

At the end of the return or suction stroke (rightward, as shown) of the plunger, valve disc 23, or rather its gasket 4, is brought tight against the flat surface of the end of plug 4S thus providing an inkand air-tight seal, more effective than ball valves heretofore used for this purpose.

Within the blind passage 33, feed 30 is provided with a narrow strip 44 of thin metal, one end of which has a hook 451 The hooked end 45 of strip 44 is frictionally engaged in the closed end of blind passage 33, Fig. 3, with the other end extending beyond feed 30 and into inner bore 43 of breather 40. The function of metal strip 44 is to break up any air bubbles or air pockets which may form within the blind passage 33 of feed 30.

There was already mentioned one hole, viz. 35, in feed 30, which extends from channel 34 to inner or blind passage 33; as already explained, hole 35 functions in the ink filling operation by providing a communication between channel 34 and blind passage 33. Feed 30 has two other holes, 36, 46, Fig. 3 which, for convenience in manufacture, are shown as aligned with one another. Holes 36, 46 are closed to the blind (leftward) end of inner passage 33 and both holes communicate therewith, hole 36 extending from channel 34 to inner blind passage 33 to the bottom of feed 30 (diametrically opposed to channel 34). Holes 36 and 46 perform different functions, which will now be explained.

Before explaining the purpose of upper hole 36, it should be pointed out that channel 34 of feed 30 is not completely filled with ink during writing. On the contrary, ink should flow to the pen nib only along the bottom of channel 34, Fig. 13, or, at least, along a. corner or side of the channel. In the improved pen, two fine cuts, I, I, Fig. 13, are provided at both corners of channel 34. The purpose of these cuts or fissures, I, I, is to break up the formation of air bubbles and to improve ink flow.

The purpose of upper hole 36 is to get air into the channel 34, so that ink flow will be confined to the fissures I, I of the channel, Fig. 13. In this, the upper hole 36 functions in the manner 6 of an equalizer. Air reaches. upper hole; 36 through lower hole 46-.which is in-communication with theannular space-.32. Fig.- 10; between feed 30 and pen section III.

Thepurpose oflower hole46-is to prevent socalled weeping, which is a common objection to hooded-type. fountainv pens,- towhich the instant invention pertains. Inhoodedpens, ink is retained inthe annular space-32, Figs. 10- and 3, between feed30 and pen section III, by capillary action. If the cap of the pen is placed in closing positionover the pen nib for a short period of time, and. is thenremoved, it will be found that a drop of ink will have been formed at the end of the pen. Theprovisionsof the lower hole 46 (and. the aforesaid metalstrip 44) cooperate to prevent the formation of such drops or weepmg.

Ink is held in the said annular space 32 of. the improved pen (bycapillaryaction) as in the case of other hooded pens, but the placing on, and removal of, the cap' will not cause weeping, leaking or sweating. As already described, the function of metal strip 44 is to break up any air pockets within the inner blind passage 33, so that there will be a continuity or solidity of ink unbroken by air pockets, at this'point, i. e., at the blindor closed end of passage 33; Thelowerhole 46, in providing communication between annular space 32 and inner passage-33 of the feed at this point, thus assures that there will bea soliditi or continuity of ink atv 32, 33; That is, theink. in annular spase 32 is. now madeipart of, and. con-'' tinuouswith, the ink in. blindpassage33. Any tendency of the ink in annular space 32 to break up and form-into a drop ortear is prevented bythe mutual attraction of the ink in the mass which occupies space 32, hole'46 and'passa'ge 33.

We claim:

1. In a fountain pen of'the class described, in combination, a pump shell with a large opening at one end and having a reduced opening at the other end, a large plug secured in said large opening, said large plug having an enlarged mouth facing away from said open end and a central hole, a valve unit comprising a tube slidable through said central hole in said large plug, an outer stem and an inner stem at the opposed ends of said tube and an enlargement at the outer end of each of said stems, a small gasket upon said tube adjacent the enlargement of said outer stem, a plunger having a bore and an enlarged end slidable as part of a piston in said pump shell, said plunger normally extending through said reduced opening of said pump shell, a small plug secured to one end of said plunger, an angular groove adjacent said enlarged end of said plunger, a large gasket within said annular groove sliding against the inner walls of said pump shell, said enlarged end of said plunger presenting an annular shoulder encircling said small plug, and a compression helical spring having one end seated in said enlarged mouth of said large plug and its other end abutting said annular shoulder of the enlarged end of said plunger, said compression spring maintaining said plunger and said small plug in its extended position with said enlargement of said outer stem within the open end of said pump shell, outward movement of said plunger by said compression spring maintaining said small gasket adjacent said outer stem in abutment and in sealing contact with said large plug, inward movement manually of said plunger carrying said valve 7 unit inwardly and further inward iiidveiniit of said plunger causing the end of said time of said plunger to abut the enlargement of said inner stem opening said valve.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said small plug has an enlarged mouth facing the said piston and a central hole, said tube of the valve unit being slidable through said hole in said small plug, said enlargement of said inner stem being disposed in the enlarged mouth of said small plug.

3. The combination according to claim 1 further provided with an ink cylinder at one end of which said pump shell is secured, said cylinder having interiorly an annular ledge near its said end, said ledge having an opening therein, said ledge being abutted by the enlargement of said outer stem to limit the forward travel of the valve unit.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said piston bore extends a predetermined distance longitudinally whereby the said enlargement of said inner stem is slidable in said bore as the piston moves in its said forward stroke.

5. In a fountain pen of the class described, in combination, a pump shell with a large opening at one end and having a reduced opening at the other end, a large plug having a central hole and secured in said large opening, a valve unit comprising a tube having enlarged ends, said tube slidable through said central hole in said large plug and a small gasket upon said tube adjacent one of said enlarged ends, a plunger having a bore and an enlarged end, said plunger normally extending through said reduced end of said pump shell, a small plug having a central opening secured to one end of said plunger, a large gasket seated adjacent said enlarged end of said plunger, said large gasket sliding against the inner walls of said pump shell, a spring having one end seated against said large plug and its opposite end against said enlarged end of said plunger, said spring maintaining said plunger in its extended position with said tube and its enlarged ends within said pump shell, in which extended position said plunger maintains said small gasket in sealing contact with said large plug.

6. In a fountain pen of the class described, in combination, an ink cylinder, a pump unit at one end of the ink cylinder a breather tube extending into said ink cylinder with its extended end spaced inwardly from said pump unit, a deflector having outwardly turned portions of the inner end of said breather tube for deflectingthe ink passing through said breather tube away from said pump unit, said pump unit comprising a piston and a valve unit including a valve disc normally in sealing contact with said valve unit, said valve unit being loosely associated with said piston, said ink cylinder being provided with an annular ledge near its said pump end, said ledge being abutted by the valve disc in said forward stroke of the pump, so that the valve unit is given a reduced stroke and its disc is kept beyond the range of ink coming from said breather tube.

ERNEST B. BLOCKERT. ANTHONY MARINO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,416,302 Mitchell May 16, 1922 2,108,552 Schoneberger Feb. 15, 1938 2,343,991 Mohns Mar. 14, 1944 2,417,861 Dahlberg Mar. 25, 1947 2,455,964 Winter Dec. 14, 1948 

